Announcing the World Smart Grid Forum 2013

There is an urgent need for the development of robust, low-carbon energy systems to address global issues of long-term energy security. Despite this unanimous target, Smart Grids are still failing to move beyond the project stage.

Complexity of Smart Grids

Literally hundreds of mostly commercial and technical Smart Grid events are trying to get a handle on this complex issue. However, counter-intuitively the complexity and difficulty of Smart Grids doesn’t come from technology, which is mostly readily available, but rather involves the need for intricate human decision-making.

Under the thought leadership of IEC, SGCC and VDE

Three neutral, global partners with a strong interest and know-how in Smart Grids, but without commercial motivation, have now joined forces for the first World Smart Grid Forum (Berlin, 24-25 September 2013). The IEC, the world’s leading standards body in electrotechnology, the SGCC (State Grid Corporation of China) the world’s biggest power utility, and VDE, one of the largest technical and scientific associations in Europe, have combined their efforts to deliver a decision-making canvas that aims to allow Smart Grids to finally move into large scale implementation.

Smart Grids must progress from discussion to action if energy security is to be assured. For Smart Grids, sustainable communities, and Smart Cities to become a reality all key stakeholders need to be represented and there needs to be the impetus to move this forward as a reality.

Global scope

The World Smart Grid Forum is co-chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus Wucherer, President of the IEC, Liu Zhenya, President of SGCC, and Dr.-Ing. Joachim Schneider, President of VDE. The three partner organizations have a truly global scope and are ideally placed to stimulate concrete Smart Grid development.

The Forum offers two parallel tracks that provide participants with a highly condensed knowledge base that can serve as the foundation for reality-based decision-making.

Track A will explore the interactions that are needed to support a low-carbon energy supply.

Track B will define what is needed to develop smart and sustainable communities and cities. Beyond technology and design: identify the gaps that need to be filled to bridge from vision to reality.

About SGCC

State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) ranked the 7th on 2012 Fortune Global 500. The core businesses of SGCC are investment, construction and operation of power grids that cover 8.448 million square km of the national territory, providing power to a population of over 1.1 billion. SGCC also runs 15 Brazilian transmission companies, and holds shares of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and Portugal’s grid operator Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN). It has established 10 representative offices in five continents. www.sgcc.com.cn

About VDE

With 36,000 members, including 1 300 companies, 8 000 students and 6 000 young professionals, VDE, the Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies, is one of the largest technical and scientific associations in Europe. VDE embraces science, standardization work and product testing and certification under one roof. VDE is involved in technical knowledge transfers, research, and promoting young talents in the key technologies of electrical engineering, electronics and information technology and their applications. Other key VDE activities include ensuring safety in electrical engineering, developing recognized technical regulations as national and international standards, and testing and certifying electrical and electronic devices and systems. The VDE mark, known and respected by 63 percent of Germans, is considered to be a symbol for the highest safety standards. VDE works in the fields of information technology, energy, medical engineering, microelectronics, micro and nanotechnology and automation. More information about VDE is available at: http://www.vde.com/en/

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ABOUT THE IEC

The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is the world’s leading organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies. Close to 20 000 experts from industry, commerce, government, test and research labs, academia and consumer groups participate in IEC Standardization work.